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Luke 2:1-7 and Rev. 5:1-10
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can also download our service at Baptist-Christian at iTunes. When Jesus came to earth the first time all the celebration and joy was overshadowed by the truth Jesus came to redeem us which meant He had to die! His first advent really prepared humanity so He could come again someday! The time from His birth to His death was just the first chapter; we are living in the second chapter, and we don’t know how long that will be; the third chapter will be 1,007 years long; and the fourth and final chapter will be eternal. Let’s consider briefly some contrasts between our Lord’s first and second coming.
- JESUS CAME AS THE GOD/MAN! See Luke 2:1-7 We’ve spent most of this month learning why Jesus had to be both God and Man to redeem us. For the most part no one knew Who the Babe in the manger really was! All those who should have known and immediately recognized Him as the Divine Covenant, as Deity Creator ridiculed and reduced Him to nothing more than a deranged carpenter. Two thousand years later it’s no different. However, there is that promise in John 14:3, and the next time He comes
- JESUS WILL COME AS GOD IN MAJESTY! Read Matt. 16: 24-28 and others like it. His second coming will be a universal event every human will notice. The whole thing will only take a nanosecond, but have eternal consequences. Two thousand years ago,
- JESUS CAME AS THE LAMB! Read Gen. 22:8; Isa. 53:7; John 1:29, 36. In Jewish (Christian) history the lamb is an animal of sacrifice. It was an offering of the common people for guilt and sin. When Jesus was attacked He simply remained “silent…before His accusers.” He really did nothing to defend Himself, because He was on a mission from His Father. Next time,
- JESUS WILL COME AS A LION! In Rev. 5:1-12 John verifies that fact. One writer says, “Jesus is the Lamb in His death and the Lion in His resurrection.” His suffering is over, He is now Sovereign Ruler of all creation everywhere. Just as any lion has great power and strength so Christ now has and will forever possess to the glory of God. The first time He came,
- JESUS CAME ALONE! There is no other instance in human history when a single person has ever been sent into battle to face an enemy alone. In case David and Goliath come to mind, remember David said it was God fighting for him. God could not fight for Christ because Christ came to deliver us from sin and all its penalty. God was pouring out all His wrath and anger toward sin upon His Son. Jesus told us God did not help Him when He cried, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” Those 12 legions of angels and all the other hosts of heaven could only watch as their Lord suffered alone. But there is that statement from the angel to the disciples. “You men of Galilee, why are you standing here gazing into heaven? This same Jesus…will return again, just as you have seen Him go.” At His first coming angels sang, but at His second coming everywhere all over the earth and throughout heaven all the angels will be worshipping, serving, and even fighting for Him. Then we get to join Him forever. Amen! If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.
